Small Town On California-Nevada Border Looks For Solutions To Money Crunch

Now members of congress are getting into the act. They're joining in the fight to keep the control tower at Lake Tahoe Airport open, in spite of FAA efforts to shut it down.

Senators and representatives from both California and Nevada have written Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, asking that he reconsider a proposal from the town of South Lake Tahoe to keep the tower operational.

Because of a budget problem, South Lake Tahoe, which pays for operations and maintenance at the airport, is faced with a $100,000 annual bill to keep the lights on at the tower. The FAA says it can't cover the cost any more.

What's an aviation-starved city to do? In South Lake Tahoe's case, less might be better. City council members suggested that the tower's operating hours be cut in half. But the FAA nixed the idea.

Now, California Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, Nevada Senator John Ensign and Congressmen John Doolittle of California and Jim Gibbons of Nevada have all written Mineta, asking him to reconsider. So far, there's no word back from Mineta or the FAA.

FMI: www.laketahoeairport.com